The Washington critic., 1887-03-11
WASHINGTON, MARCH II, 1887
JAMES BUCHANAN EADs.

for rest and rclnvlgoratlon, loses to
the country one of its most remarkable
men and ablest civil engineers. With
poverty to contend with in carly life.
and with limited advantages for cdu-
catlonal training. he became through
his own interchangeable energies man
of considerable learning and master
of mechanical science, his literary
tastes and attlnmtnts being also OF n
high order.
He distinguished himself at an early
period In the war NJ q contractor to
build number Of iron clad gunbOats
for the Governments Western ileet
boldly assuming obligations that would
have seemed to mos, men incapable of
execution. These he performed with
thoroughncss and dispatch well nigh
phenomenal, considering the difficulties
TO be encountered aud the less than n
hundred days IN which his wonderful
work was finished. 1t was triumph
Of sagacity, pluck aud executive ability
unsurpassed by any exploit in the mill.
tary or civil history Of the times.
Although a man of Qulet manners
and few words, his conspicuous char
acteristics were au unGailing self.reli.
ance and an inGO nitaOlg perseverance.
A purpose once reasoned out in his
mind as practicable was an inspiration
which nothing could daunt and which
never forsook him.
This was Illustrated In his construc.
tion of the magnificent steel bridge
across the Mississippi at st. Louis,
which stands as an enduring monu.
ment to his ability and skill in sur
mounting formidable physical impedi-
ments. 1t had further illustration in
the jetty works which he placed at the
mouth of the Mississippi. Both of
these engineering feats are substantial
evidences of his practical scientific
knowledge and of the boldness amount.
Ing almost to hardihood with which he
entered upon the consumml,lon of
projects that had once received the ap.
probation of his judgment. Whether
the jetties shall permanently continue
10 answer the end for which they were
built, they have done all that Mr. Eads
contracted they should do, and were
certainly grand conception. Their
~-'2struction was the most serious and
hazardous undertaking Of his life, but
so far as immediately promised results
are concerned they have proved m un-
deriable success.
= Far more ausiug was the conception
Of ship railway across the lsthmus Of
Tetyantepec. For the last several
-. ; this project above all others, had
yearupied the attention OF Mr.. Elds
oco d the hope Of its Ultimate realization
ar. ID become his crowning ambi,ion.
with patience tina, seemed never to
be exhausted, and devotion approach.
ing the heroic. he had concentrated all
his energies upon this object. At
home and abroad 1t had been his con-
s,ant endCnyor to secure the cp.opera.
tion ard legislation necessary to the
accomplishment of the work. His
plans were indorspd by high authori.
Ties, but for various reasons they were
slow 10 receive the assent Of Congress.
While n child could perceive its
theoretical correctness, there still re.
malned doubt In many minds as to
the practical feasibility of the method
of transit proposed, and it was doubt.
less this want of appreciation of an
idea that TO the perception of Mr. Elds
was clear and simple mechanical
proposition, which gradually wore
upon the elasticity of his temperament
and impaired the vigor of his health If
not the tenacity of his faith.
The action of the Senate at the late
session of Congress in passing the bill
for an incorporation of his company
was no doubt great satisfaction to Mr.,
Eads, after so many repeated disap-
poin,ments, and must have caused him
10 feel that the hour OF his vindication
and of his greatest triumph was near
at hand, but it was not so ordained.
The long struggle is over at last and
the busy brain that has wrestled with
so many great problems has entered
upon its final rest.
Mr.. Eads was personally a most
agreeable and amilbe man; In matters
of business clear headed and cxact; in
the social relations Of life upright aud
exemplary,
We cNGEor agree with the St. L1ui,
GloJe.UCmocrat that The newspapers o,
the country should combine 10 run tn,
Signal Service until Congress meets, II
consequence Of the failure Of the Gen
eral Deficiency bill. The better plar
would be for all the newspapers /,
combine in an appeal 10 the Presllcn
TO call an extra session OF Congress 70
the 1st Of May. In that event The ncces
sary appropriations could be made il
short order. We admit the power 0
the press in maintaining the Govern
ment, but we doub: the expcdlenay o
putting up money for Uncle Sam 81
long as he has a hundred millions sur
plus to his credit in the Treasury.
THE SUPREME CouRT of the Dlstric
ranks In the importance of the cause
liable TO be brought under it's consid
Grafton, If not In the breadth of 1t
jurisdiction, next to the Supreme Cour
Of the United States. The vacancy ey
listing on this bench should therefor
be filled by lawyer competent to pre-
side over the highest courts of tn
country. The District bar contain
material eminently suitable for th'
place, and all things else being equal I